Signal device fob aittomobiles



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SIGNAL DEVICE FUR AUTOMOBILES APPLICATION FILED GCT. HI, l'.

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INVENTOR. William Buff/e7' WITNESS:

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WILLIAM 1B. AYER, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patntef] Sept, 99 1919.

Application led October 18, 1917. Serial No. 197,237.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, "WILLIAM B. AYER, a citizen of theA United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State oi' California, have invented new and use "ul Improvements in Signal Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal devices for automobiles; and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and conven-A iently operated signal which will be effeci .tive to indicate to pedestrians, traliic officers, and occupants of vehicles, both at the front and rear, the intention of the operator, par ticularly with respect to turning.

The device comprises a frame or housing adapted to be detachably connected to the windshield or dashboard of an automobile, and within which are two sign members slidably mounted and normally concealed, spring means for pressing the sign members outwardly when the latter are released, and manually operated means for retracting the signs after they have been extended.

1n the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device embodying my invention applied to the windshield of, an automobile.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal, central, sectional viewl of the same.

Fig. lf-shows a cross sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 4L shows a fragmentary sectional view of the device, with one of the sign members extended.

Fig. 5 showsa sectional View of a modilied form of the device.

Fig. 6 shows a plan View of the same with connections :for retracting the sign members located upon the steering post of the autpmobile. i l show a iframe or housing 10 detachably connected to the windshield or dashboard 11 oi an automobile by any suitable means. Within the housing and slidably mounted on guides 12 are two sign members 13 rojectable through opposite ends of the housl ing but normally concealed within.

lin Figs. 2 and 3 lf show an eXtensible coil spring lll: mounted upon rods 15 for pressing the signs outwardly, one spring answer ing :tor both sides. In Fig. 5 another form of spring is substituted which comprises ailenible and contractible coil spring 16 run-` ning over pulleys 17, at each end of the housing, and connected at each end to one of the sign members near the inner end of the latter. v

.The means for latching the sign members in retracted and concealed position preferably comprises a button or lug 18 oncaclr projecting through a slot 19 in the front of the housing and coperating with a notch or latch 2O at the inner end of the slot. When'one of the buttons is released, the sign member connected thereu ith is thrown outwardly, as shouu in Fig. l, to the side of the ear toward which it is the intention of the driver to turn.

In cases where the windshield or dashboard is close to the drivers seat, the hut tons 18 may also be used to retract the signs.

However in other situations l may employropes or flexible connections 2l, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, secured to the inner ends of the sign members and extending through guides 22 and passing outwardly through the 'front of the housing to a point accessible to the operator as, for instance, the steering wheel 23 where their ends may be fitted with handles 2&1- working in bayonet-jointed guides 25. A pull on the button or handle serves to return the sign member to concealed position, whereupon the latch devices 20 or bayonet joints, as the case may be, serve to automatically lock the ame in place. If desired, an incandescent ,iight 26 may be, arranged at each end of the housing to illuminate the projected sign.

The device is of simple and economical construction and easily operated. l'i; offers the advantage that warning is given to pedestrians in front as well as occupants of vehicles at the rear when the change inthe course oftravel is contemplated.

For each sign member l provide one or more bumpers 27, preferably of rubber, which, in the form shown in Fig. 5, are arranged on the sign member near the inner end thereof and in the case ofthe 'form shown in Fig. 2 are slidable on the rods 15. These bumpers are adapted to strike against a stop 28 on the inside of the casing at the end thereof; the stop device of Fig. 5 being Mill Miti

in the form of a bar secured in place by means of rivets or bolts projecting through the upper and lower portions of the easing and entering the bent ends oi the bar; and in the case of Fig. 2 being in the torre of vision 'ci the driver.

ln the majority ot automobiles the casing may 'be arranged onfthe dashboard, `hut Where other instruments are present to i11-` terfere it can be placed on the Wind shield far enough down to not interfere Withthe ot the Wind shield opens outwardly at its bottom and the casin-is on the inside there is no interference Wit the normal operation of the wind shield.

Having thus described my invention, what i l claim and desire to secureby Letters Pat entis--` y U l. ln a signal device forautomobiles, a

casing, an upper and lower-guide in the easing extending .longitudinally thereof and arranged between and in spacedrelation to 'the front and back of the casing, said-guides being ci substantially V-shape in cross sec- Ation with their apices confronting each other,` a pair cit' plates in the casing having their sides turned outwardly nt an angle. and

Since the lovver :half

engaged with the respectivesloping sides ot the guides and also with the front and bacl't respectivelyof the casing, spring means for moving the plates to signaling positions, and reieasa'ble means to vhold the `plates against the aet'ionot the spring means. v

ina signal device for automobiles, a casing, an upperfand a lovver guide in the casing extending longitudinally thereof and arranged between and in spaced relation to the trent and haelt of the easing, said guides losing ci substantially'll-shape in cross section vwith their yapices confronting 'each otheiyja pair oit plates in the casing having their sides turned outwardly at an angle and engaging With the respective sloping sides of the guides and'also with the front and back respectively of thecasing, spring means for moving the platesto signaling position including a rod on each plate, a single coil spring commonto each rod and encircling hoth of the' latter and connected at its ends to the respective rods for moving either plates independent of the'other to signaling position,- and releasalole means to hold the plates against the action of the spring.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set lmy hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. 1 y

Y' WlLLAM B1, AYER.

-Witnessea denn ll. -lnnnme, "W, W. lilnannr. 

